Flexible Working

By Gill Sharp

We're told that the chance to work flexibly is seen as one of the
biggest possible benefits by graduates seeking their first post -
especially in the public and academic sectors. Indeed, flexible working
is a term often bandied about by recruiters and employers, but very few
have attempted to come up with a definition of what it actually means.
In fact, in its various different guises, it's flourishing in
universities and colleges throughout the land: education is particularly
suited to different modes of working.

Part time work was espoused with fervour by the public sector, many
years ago, largely, one suspects, to lure women back into the office,
the hospital ward and, of course, the classroom. And, since this
inception, it has grown until we have arrived at the current state of
affairs, where all sorts and permutations of 'alternative work styles'
are feasible.

What does this mean in reality i.e. what's available if the 9 - 5
commute has lost any appeal that it ever held? And, from an alternative
point of view, what is available for those who need to add a spot of
relevant experience to their CV before being able to access full time
and permanent roles? Some of the options below could act as a
springboard to this outcome.

Part-time Working

The most obvious choice for teaching fraternity and technicians,
administrators, librarians et al is a part-time post. Cathy is on a
permanent three day a week lecturing contract at one of the leafier
suburban universities. If she wants other work at sporadic
intervals, this is sometimes forthcoming from her current employers.
If not, she has enough contacts in the profession to find freelance
possibilities elsewhere. Similarly, one off opportunities may
present themselves and she has enough free time to take these on -
if she wishes. Sounds idyllic? Well, according to Cathy, it
frequently is. Although, when people remark on how nice it must be
to work for just over half the week, she points out that less time
means less money, a point that many forget. Are there any other
drawbacks? Resisting the temptation to cram too much work into
those shortened hours is the main one. "You have to have very firm
boundaries," she reports.

If salary combined with a change of scene is paramount, you can take two
part time jobs. Julia works in learning support at two different
universities. Her view of the pluses is pretty much the same as Phil's
- see below - but with none of the minuses that he lists, though she
occasionally feels slightly 'disconnected' from both her workplaces.
"You can sometimes feel less than fully assimilated. As a part timer,
there is a danger of being seen as an outsider," she warns. "And if
you're not around at staff meetings for instance, your issues are
sometimes ignored or you find that you have been allocated the jobs that
no one else wants."

Associate Lecturer

Julia's experience is just the tip of the iceberg. Plenty of staff,
such as Phil have several workplaces. He is an associate lecturer at
two universities in London and another in the Home Counties. Although
this often entails him scurrying from the wrong side of the capital, to
the depths of Kent, he is clear about the plus points. "Variety in
terms of students, teaching methods and subjects. Clear cut duties. A
hint of a gentle challenge when one is dealing with a new institution or
course. A lot of autonomy. And, best of all, little chance of getting
entangled in internal politics." So no ambiguity there. What are the
downsides?

"Apart from sometimes not knowing what's going on or turning up in a
Monday to find your timetable's been changed, the most heart stopping
moment comes every August with the arrival of a letter from the head of
department. This may renew your contract, giving you gainful employment
for another year, or tell you politely that your services are no longer
required." This way of operating has obvious implications for job
security too - no occupational pension, plus responsibility for own tax
and National Insurance.

Of course, Associate Lecturer duties, even if they are based at just one
college, have always been particularly appropriate for those who have
another (often 'creative') identity beyond the gleaming spires, as, say,
an artist , a designer, a writer, a thespian. However the trend is
spreading across other vocational subjects too - sports science, health
specialisms, and media studies, for instance.

Term Time Only

Term time only is a natural progression for those, especially admin
staff, who hanker after a dedicated chunk of holiday, rather than small
slices throughout the year. Indeed, it is one of the advantages of
labouring in the groves of academe. Of course, there are those cynics
who would contend that certain colleagues have been operating in this
mode for years while being on a full time contract. Be that as it may,
some people take this work mode to its natural extreme - both part time
and term time only. Intense, but worth it for the time off and the
opportunity to pursue other interests. What else does it involve? Good
time management and self discipline seem to be the key components.

Job Share

Some jobs, particularly at more senior level, don't lend themselves
particularly well to a part time post. Job share would then seem to be
the most sensible option. If you choose to work in this way and the
role is deemed suitable for two rather than one, the onus is not
necessarily on you to seek out a suitable partner: the post can be
advertised. Ditto if your partner ups and leaves, your job is normally
secure and HR will set to work to find you a colleague. How does a job
share pan out in practice? Problems can accrue if there is a lack of
communication or one person is has a very different way of working
practices.

The former can be taken care of by ensuring that there is always some
handover time, be it face to face or by email. The latter requires
adaptability - but isn't that what flexible working is all about? And
maybe it's just like any other partnership - marriage springs to mind -
when early discussion can prevent rumblings of discontent from
escalating into something bigger. And, as Emma can testify, this work
style can have unexpected benefits. "I used to have a chaotic desk and
leave everything to the last minute. But when I started job sharing, my
partner was very well organised which gave me a bit of a wake up call.
Apart from which I didn't feel it was fair to leave her with all sorts
of loose ends to tie up. So my time and task management improved
rapidly."

Portfolio Working

All these different ways of earning a living may eventually cross the
line from part timer or peripatetic Associate Lecturer to Portfolio
Worker. These are people who have a whole host of jobs on an annual,
monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. Envisage working as a freelance
researcher one day, teaching one morning, taking on some writing in the
afternoon and then doing some consultancy later in the week. It's not
for the fainthearted or even those who like to know what's just round
the corner. Juggling multiple deadlines occasionally means that some
collide. And often what work is on offer can amount to a feast or a
famine. The ability to live with uncertainty is a pre requisite...

Hopefully this has given you some food for thought and some new
perspectives on the old routine. And if all else fails, you could
entertain the idea of heading for foreign climes via either a career
break or an exchange with a university beyond these islands. Now that
really is taking flexible working to its ultimate conclusion.

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About this Article

Writer Profile

Gill Sharp graduated in
English more years ago than she cares to remember. After a short spell in arts
administration, she took her Diploma in Careers Guidance. She is now a
freelance careers adviser, writer, trainer and assessor. Variety being the
spice of life, she also does some lecturing and the occasional TV and radio
broadcast